Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Soccer is Religion in Italy, So Vatican to Field a Team ???

THe ANNOTICO  Report

 

Vatican Official Aspires to Compete with Italy's Football Elite


The Associated Press

Monday, December 18, 2006

 

VATICAN CITY

Soccer is practically a religion for many in Italy. So maybe it's no surprise the Vatican is now getting in on the game.

The Holy See is fielding a team in the Clericus Cup  a soccer tournament among seminarians which kicks off in Rome in February.

The Vatican even has a vision of forming a team capable of playing in Italy's top league, the Serie A, according to top Vatican official and soccer enthusiast Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is credited with the idea.

"The Vatican could set up a soccer team of the caliber of Roma, Inter (Milan), Genoa or Sampdoria," Bertone, 72, said Sunday.

But he downplayed the likelihood of the Vatican fielding a professional team.

"Let's not get carried away. We will continue our amateur competitions ... and carry on measuring ourselves on our sports fields," Bertone told reporters before a soccer tournament Monday in Rome between the lay employees of St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Swiss Guards.

"I hope I can come to support the odd game, maybe even do commentary for Vatican Radio," he said.

Organizers say the idea is to "reinvigorate the tradition (of sport) within the Christian community."

It is not the first time that the Vatican has got involved in sport.

In 2004, the late Pope John Paul II  a goalkeeper in his youth in Poland  set up a Vatican sports department. In 2000, he presided over an all-star soccer game at Stadio Olimpico, which included one of Italy's greatest players, Roberto Baggio.

The church may have unsung talent of its own. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, is said to have been a promising soccer player in his youth.

At 74, he may already be reaching for his boots.

 

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